Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has made limited military progress, but his determination to continue the war has not waned. Russia’s military-industrial complex is producing more ammunition, and Putin has intensified his crackdown on domestic opposition and dissent, including the death of Alexei Navalny in prison. Putin views the war as a means to solidify his power at home and challenge the West’s political and ideological dominance. Despite growing public discontent, Putin has maintained support for the war by promoting a siege mentality and glorifying the military, while suppressing dissent and restricting individual freedoms. However, the gap between Putin’s militaristic goals and the desire for normalcy among the Russian people is widening, and the economic and social costs of the war are beginning to take their toll.